Young women in India increase use of hygienic menstrual protection
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Data from the National Family Health Survey-6 shows that 79.2% of women aged 15 to 24 in India now use hygienic methods for menstrual protection.
This figure represents a steady increase from 77.6% in the previous survey and a notable rise from 57.6% recorded in 2015 to 2016. The survey aligns with global standards from the World Health Organization and UNICEF, which define effective menstrual hygiene as using clean, private, and safely disposed materials to prevent infection.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare implemented the Scheme for Promotion of Menstrual Hygiene to drive these improvements. This strategy involves the National Health Mission to increase awareness among adolescent girls and provide sanitary napkins through ASHA workers in schools and communities. The government also provides information and education materials to promote safe disposal methods for used products. To ensure affordability, the government launched Jan Aushadhi Suvidha sanitary napkins under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana.
These pads cost 1 rupee each and are distributed through more than 18,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country. The government reports that it sold more than 100 crore Suvidha pads by January 2026, with over 22.50 crore sold during the 2025 to 2026 fiscal year.
